Allahabad: In a bizarre incident in Uttar Pradesh, a man who had taken to stealing to foot his wife’s poll expenses was arrested by the Pratapgarh police.
Police said, the man, identified as Panch Lal Verma, along with his aides had committed around 65 loots. He mostly targeted the houses of politicians, their relatives, government officers and prominent traders including a close relative of state minister Dr Mahendra Pratap Singh at Karmajeetpur village, under Kandhai police station, last month, police claimed.
According to police, Verma’s wife Sangeeta Verma, a resident of Poore Rahman Madhawa, had contested the gram pradhan election and won.
The couple had borrowed around Rs 20-25 lakh from neighbours, relatives and others to cover the expenses of the campaign. The money was also spent on celebrations after she got elected.
Finding no other way to clear his debts, Verma formed a gang and executed the loots over three years in Pratapgarh district and neighbouring areas, he confessed during interrogation.
Police have recovered 44gm of gold, 1.278kg of silver, a rifle gun, country-made pistol and live cartridges from their possession.